Feeding growing carpets

[jmcrook]

Question for the seasoned Morelia folks around here: about how long did your young carpets stay on small prey items, ie. hopper mice and rat pinks?

I'm asking because I've finally decided to splurge on some non-rodent prey items and am playing economics as I order snake food for the rest of the year. In particular, I'm deciding whether or not to order a bag of 40 8-12 g Reptilinks (roughly the size of a hopper mouse/rat pink) or 24 16-20 g links (roughly the size of a small mouse/fuzzy rat) to go with the 20 hopper mice and 25 similarly-sized baby quail I have/will have on hand.

In other words, would it be wiser to order smaller prey items for now, or larger prey items for later this year?

Some tidbits for those of you know the snake(s) this concerns: Pandora the Papuan is currently ~55g and ~2'3" long at 8 months old. Kuzco the longicauda boa will be partaking in the same prey items as her given his present size and growth rate (he's ~120g and 2'3" at 20 months old).

Thanks in advance! Do feel free to share any other advice you have for feeding young carpets if you're so inclined.

I'll preface by saying that I am by no means a seasoned Morelia veteran. I will say that I have probably fed much on the lighter side that my carpets can handle during the time I've had them until just recently. Very likely a result of being gun shy after having a pair of retics that I fed the absolute fricken bejesus out of to combat their absurd face pushing shenanigans, but that's another discussion entirely... I also got into Boas before carpets and my mindset regarding Boa feeding greatly impacted my opinion of a substantial meal for a carpet.

My Morelia have all started with me at weights between 29-92grams and were being fed on very different schedules with each breeder. Youngest (rockhampton coastal from Michael Pennell) arrived at 7months and 29 grams, was fed all through her first winter here every 5-7 days on mice pinks and then fuzzies, hoppers, and so on. Second smallest (male brisbane, also MPENN) arrived at 11 months and 53grams on rat pinks at that time. Female brisbane was close to 2yrs and on weaned mice according to Nick (very small for age in my opinion but in great health). Last addition (maternally incubated jungle) was 65grams and 7 months on arrival and eating small rat pups/large fuzzies according to Mike Curtin.

Since about last summer all have been fed about every 7-10-14days or so with a 2 month fast over the last winter from November through December. It will be longer and scheduled differently next winter.

I have recently begun to start really pushing the envelope for all Morelia critters here in terms of prey size, though the frequency will remain in the 10-14 realm and ramp up during late summer/early fall, then taper back off for winter fasting and cool period.

I'll echo what Ziggy said about ordering less smaller feeders. They can move through prey sizes pretty quick. I've had a ton of leftover small size feeders that I've either had to offer multiples of or forego entirely after a certain point. These are not Boas and can handle a very substantial meal, but don't offer anything silly huge. My recent post of my male brisbane taking a weaned rat really put into perspective how well they handle what you think might be a huge meal until you see it in their bellies. I have some serious puzzles to solve before making my next feeder order as all of my Morelia are <1-3yrs in range and have substantial growing to do as well as my two boas.

I hope to get everyone on small/medium rats sooner than later for ease of ordering and also to begin buying diverse prey items of similar size that can be offered to all the animals I keep. I hope to offer rodent (rats and perhaps small rabbits on occasion) and avian prey (quail is my primary idea) and possibly repti links, but we'll see.

It's worth noting that I aim to maintain my animals less on the max size of their genetic growth potential. While I certainly will not be starving any of them, I will also not be pressing them for maximum sizes for their respective species or localities. In Nick's direct words to me regarding male Morelia of all species, "Once they're as big around as a quarter they're adults, can breed, and don't need to be any bigger." Also in his words, "The giant 14' coastals you hear about are invariably males. Females are larger on average, but the giant carpets are almost always males."

This got a little ramble-y and scattered, but the short of it is don't be hesitant to offer larger prey sooner than later. Carpets are stretchy and can take it.

!!MORELIA MAFIA 4 LIFE!!